Page 25 of His Atonement

Just because I wanted those other things doesn't mean I didn't want love and babies too, but I've known for a long time that isn't an option, not with the way my life has played out, and honestly at this point, I'm glad for it.

It would break my heart to leave behind a husband and kids. It's hard enough knowing I'll leave Al and the girls, so I'm glad I don't have that.

It’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.

"So are you always sparkly now or do you just have some stellar weed that gives you an extra glow?" Casey brings me back as Opal switches sides.

I shrug. "It's good shit, but I doubt it has sparkle qualities."

Posey snorts. "Well, whatever it is, you look amazing, Frank, and we are so fucking glad you're here."

"Fucking glad!" Daisy echoes while she twerks in the middle of the table, only to stop dead in her tracks as we all hear a deep voice from the doorway.

"Is that how a proper dragon princess speaks,moje dieta' z kvetu?"

Daisy's lower lip sticks out immediately, but she's not fooling anyone. "Nie ocko."

Andrej's eyes instantly soften as he picks her up and sits next to me. ”No, it is not.” Then he winks, fuckingwinksat her, and whispers, "Not in front of your royal subjects, anyway."

Daisy giggles like a maniac as he rubs his scruff against her neck and goddamnit, I really fucking like Andrej so much for that.

"Well, I'll be damned!"

My head snaps toward another doorway as Hank, Posey's dad, comesstrollingout of the kitchenon his feetwhile carrying a huge tray of food, a beautiful woman right behind him. "If it isn't Red in the flesh!"

"Holy shit!" I screech as I get up from the table, round it just as he sets down the tray. "Shit, Hank, you look… I mean wow!" I hug him tight, and giggle as he lifts my feet off the ground. "Allie told me about your miraculous recovery but Jesus, I can't even believe it!"

"Believe it, Red.” He grins. "I'm good as new and can take any of the young bucks to prove it." Hank takes another tray from the black-haired beauty next to him. "And this, this is my wife Janet. Puddin', this is Frankie, Al's sister-cousin."

"Sister-cousin?" Another huge man walks out of the kitchen, one with dark auburn hair tipped in an even darker red and similar colored eyes. "What the hell is a sister-cousin?"

Hank rolls his eyes then looks at me. "Frank, meet Karel. He's the boys’ uncle."

I nod but don't have time to respond because the doorway to the dining room is once again full of mammoth men and I'm introduced to Kai, Henrich, Milos, and Vok.

I look around as everyone sits, eyes wide as dinner plates. "Holy hell, that is a lot of man candy."

Five dark, black brows lift in my direction but Cora smacks my arm. "Right?! I tell them that all the time. They really shouldn't hit people with all their masculine beauty at one time, it's dangerous."

I nod, a ton of drool probably running down my chin. "To panties and eyeballs alike."

The five share another look while Karel frowns and Hank laughs his ass off.

"Where's Zan?" Cora asks as she proceeds to load her plate with more food than I could ever eat.

"Out back.” Vok grins. "He will join us shortly."

Milos snorts. "He's pouting because he finally lost."

The women groan but I can't do anything other than stare.

For a few minutes, anyway, because I eventually blurt, "And you all have accents." I fan my face. "Jesus, I may end up pregnant by default." And just when I manage to roll my tongue back up into my head, my entire world stops.

The sexiest, the most gorgeous man I have ever seen comes strolling into the dining room, a heavy dose of swagger to his gait.

He's scowling, but it does absolutely nothing to hinder how beautiful he is; hell, it makes him prettier.

Tall, so fucking tall like the rest of the men but he's leaner, still muscled as hell but in a more rugby or soccer player sort of way.